JOURNALING IS PRETTY GREAT

I've recently discovered that journaling is pretty great, it's perfect if you're having a bad day and need to let off some stream, to document important moments in life, for tracking weight loss and fitness goals, or even to write about something positive each day. A journal has hundreds of purposes and you can make it your own. "A personal journal is an ideal environment in which to "become". It is a perfect place for you to think, feel, discover, expand, remember, and dream." - Brad Wilcox.

I've been journaling for about 6 weeks and am finding it so helpful. Although, I've quickly realised that it differs from blogging in many ways. With a hand-written journal you can't re-write an entry as easily as you can electronically. It could become very messy if you tried to erase a sentence here or there, for people like me who love things to be neat and tidy it can be difficult to deal with. In a way, this is a good thing, you get the real emotions out on the page instead of editing your story. I'm already seeing the benefits of keeping a hand-written journal, some are obvious but some I didn't really expect. I knew it would be a great way for me to express my emotions, explore my goals and work through my issues. I didn't expect to breathe a sigh of relief once I've wrote everything down. It's very therapeutic, you're able to be honest and have no fear that you will be criticised for writing something people would deem inappropriate.

I had to have the right journal, I didn't feel comfortable using a ringbinder notebook, I wanted something pretty and better quality for my constant ramblings. I looked in a few shops and found some beautiful designs but they were too expensive for my liking. Then I tried WHSmith and found this bright and bold orange journal for only £8 which was pretty reasonable, although now it's in the sale for £4 so grab a bargain while you can. Getting the right journal could motivate you to start writing, I was much more inspired once I had my new one.

One thing I would suggest if you're starting a journal is don't put additional pressure on yourself by attempting to write every day if you don't want to. Sometimes, I only write once a week and other times I'm writing twice a day. It depends what goes on in my life, if you're writing for yourself like I am then don't worry. Try and relax, enjoy writing and getting your creative juices flowing. Some days I had nothing to write about, forcing myself to write would only discourage me. I don't think "I woke up, ate a whole chocolate cake and watched tv." is worth documenting anywhere other than Twitter. In reality, a journal won't be perfectly written and have one exciting entry after another, we're only human and sometimes have what would be considered "boring problems".

You'll never know if journaling will work until you give it a try. The first thing to consider is how you're going to journal, whether you choose hand-written as I did or electronically. Next, do you want it to be public for the world to read or something private just for you. Since I already have this little space on the blogosphere to ramble publicly I wanted a personal space to express my thoughts. It was the best decision I've made recently, hopefully I've inspired just one person to start a journal of their own.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

LIFE UPDATE: REMEMBERING TO TAKE CARE OF MYSELF

Anyone who knows me understands that I have a very busy schedule and am always on the go. Whether I'm going to acting rehearsals, a pole fitness lesson, work, the gym or spending the afternoon writing, I'm always doing something. Unfortunately, over the last few months I've been stretching myself way to thin and experiencing high stress levels, that resulted in me having a mini breakdown at work! Yes, how embarrassing... Just to top it all off, last week I collapsed and was taken to A&E. The doctors couldn't advise what caused it but my friends and family have come to the conclusion that I'm trying to do too much. Perhaps, I mean maybe they could have a point that I do need to slow down and take a breather. For someone who's used to going 100 miles per hour, it's difficult to imagine taking your foot of the pedal and slowing down.

I'm currently training to become a pole instructor, working as an amateur actor, blogging on this little space, gyming it at least 4 times a week (well I try too), along side maintaining a full time job. When I write it all down it does sound like a lot doesn't it? I never realised how much I manage on a weekly basis. This could be the reason why I've been ill but I've been trying to deal with the stressful days as they come.

I'm finding myself being pulled from pillar to post trying to achieve everything. When you want to achieve so many things, how are you meant to fit it all in? Am I supposed to let one hobby or ambition die so another can flourish? That doesn't seem like an option for me. It's difficult to decide what part of my life has to take a back seat because I've worked so hard and made a lot of scarifies to get to this point where I have opportunities to choose from. Although, when it comes down to my health, I can't deny that I need to make some kind of a change.

I'm not ready to let go of one of my hobbies just yet, I think the best thing I can do is ease off and make sure I have more relaxation time. Try to avoid packing my "days off" with back to back meetings and events. When I say I'm going to chill out, actually do just that! By making small changes to my schedule it will help reduce my stress levels and I'll have time to let my mind and body relax and recover.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

SaveSaveSaveSave

TIPS TO TACKLE BAD DAYS

No matter what you do, bad days are bound to happen. Even the happiest person will have one of those days where everything goes wrong, you feel upset for no reason, annoyed at yourself or others about nothing. I'm sure I'm not the only person who has felt like this, I still have the occasional day where I think it isn't worth getting out of bed. When bad days occur, you can either dwell in self pity or turn the day into something positive.

Everyone has different ways to think positively and tackle bad days, not everything will be helpful but I've listed a few suggestions that you can try to turn that frown upside down...

1. Don't stay indoor all day, go out and get some fresh air.

2. Pamper yourself by having a long hot bath, painting your nails, using a face mask or any kind of pampering you love.

3. Read something inspirational, whether that be a favourite book, quotes or blogs.

4. Don't be afraid to write your feelings down and get some frustration out.

5. Spend some time with a positive person, I have a friend who is so positive and she will always make you see the silver lining in any situation. Although she thinks that everything can be solved with healthy food...

6. Call up a friend and have a heart to heart, when something is wrong with me I speak to my best friend, she's always there to listen and cheer me up.

7. Retail therapy is always a winner, buy a nice new top or maybe a new phone case.

8. Switch off from the technology and have some "me" time.

9. Listen to positive and uplifting music.

10. Watch your favourite movie or chain watch a series on Netflix.

11. Do something creative like drawing, sewing, blogging, baking or one of your hobbies. Personally, I would read some scripts for acting or do some blogging.

12. Get out of bed, have a shower and get dressed. You'll feel so much better and refreshed.

13. Plan or do something fun, have you wanted to start a new project well now its time to start. Perhaps you were thinking about booking a getaway?

14. Do some exercise, fitness has been proven to release positive endorphins.

15. Eat something extra special, whether you want junk food or a sweet treat.

16. Have a pyjama day, if I ever do this I have a shower and get into a new pair of PJs, is this strange?

Do you have any tips for trackling bad days?

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

6 THINGS I AM THANKFUL FOR

Life can sometimes throw you unexpected curve balls but even through the difficult times everyone has things to be thankful for. Being able to identify these things can be challenging but when you realise how good your life is you can learn to live a truly positive life. Today I want to talk about the things I'm thankful for ...

Happiness

Living a positive life is so important to leading a happy one. You know all those cliche phases, like "Every cloud has a silver lining", "You have to look through the rain to see the rainbow", "Everything happens for a reason" or my all time favourite ... "It's not the number of breaths we take, but the number of moments that take our breath away". Ok, I'm done with the cliches but you get my point right? They all stand for happiness and finding the good moments through the difficult times. So smile, laugh and enjoy life with the people you love.

Happiness isn't something you experience solo through life, it's shared with our loved ones. My best friend is now 27 weeks pregnant with a bouncing baby girl and my uncle will be tying the knot in August. Its a wonderful feeling to be able to share these life events with the people we love, never take these moments for granted as they are what make up our lives.

Career

Not everyone is entirely happy with their career, maybe it's because they took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up in a job that paid the bills. Right now, I'm happy with my career, I feel that I am learning new things everyday. I've worked hard to get to the position I'm in now, I want to keep developing my skills and myself within my role. To think, I would have never got this role if I wasn't made redundant from my previous job that I was only "fond off", life works in mysterious ways.

Travel

I had no idea that I would have already travelled to so many beautiful places in the world at this age. I love exploring new sights and experiencing new cultures. I constantly have wanderlust for a new city or country, especially when I follow so many inspirational travel bloggers on Instagram. Although my long term travels are over for a while it's still an amazing feeling to share my travel stories and inspire others to venture out into the world to discover something new.

Freedom

I'm so lucky to live in a society that provides so much freedom to do, say and think what I like ... within reason of course. Social media has made it so easy for everyone to voice their own opinion regardless of their education or lifestyle. Having the freedom to be the person I want to be and to live the life I want to live is a wonderful thing.

Friendships

When I need to share, laugh, cry or vent, my friends are just a phone call away. I'm proud to have so many loyal friends all around the globe, each person has supported me through difficult and happy times during my life. I've always been told that good friendships last even if you're not together a lot, take me as an example, I have lots of friends that I met while travelling who live all over the world. Yes I don't keep in contact with them all but I have with my closest friends. 

Health

Your health above all else is the most important thing in life, we should all be grateful if we are in good health. Nothing else truly matters, as long as your friends and family are well. So, go to the doctors and dentists for regular check ups and keep up a healthy lifestyle.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

HOW TO SET YOURSELF UP FOR A PRODUCTIVE DAY

Setting yourself up for a productive day can be tough at times, it can be easy to either chain watch Netflix or sleep all day. When you do manage a truly productive day you can feel like you're on top of the world with everything you've achieved. I have to admit, I'm no stranger to avoiding those pesky weekly chores for as long as possible but sometimes you need to get stuck in to ensure you have a productive day. Here's how you can achieve this.

1. Get enough sleep

Getting enough sleep is so important for our health and productivity for the next day. On average we need 6-9 hours of sleep each night. The more sleep you get the more energy you'll have for the day ahead, although an excessive amount of sleep can result in fatigue. I find if I go to bed around 9pm and have 8 hours sleep I feel great in the morning, although if I turn in about 11/12pm and still have 8 hours I wake up feeling tired. Find out what sleeping pattern works for you.

2. Eat the right food

Food is fuel, if you're putting greesy and highly processed food that burns energy quickly into your body, it isn't going to keep you motivated and fuelled for the day. Shortly after you can feel tired and hungry again. You need to ensure you choose the healthier options that slowly release energy throughout the day, keeping you fuller for longer.

3. Stay hydrated 
Remember to stay hydrated, drink 2-3 litres of water throughout the day. This will keep your brain and body awake and active, if you don't drink enough you can start to feel drowsy and laziness kicks in. If you have problems keeping track of your water intake each day, why not buy a litre plastic bottle so you know you need to drink 2-3 full bottles per day. The other option is using something like an app to track your intake, I use one called "Water Balance", every time you drink you update the app and it shows you how much more you need to consume.

4. Get out of bed

This is a no brainer, in order to have a productive day you first need to get out of bed. I'm not one of those people who can lay in bed all day but I know a few who believe a day in bed, is a day well spent. Staying in bed simply prolongs your day and laziness can kick in. I find the best way to wake up and start my day is by having a shower and putting clothes on. Once you're up and ready, then begin to check emails and scroll through social media.

5. Exercise in the morning
Fitness has been proven to improve your mood, setting you up for a good day. For me, a productive day always includes a little fitness, I find that if I exercise in the morning I have more energy to tackle the day ahead.

6. Write down your goals for the day

Understanding what you want and need to achieve in a day is so important. Take a moment to note everything down. I find that writing something down can help embed it into my mind.

7. Get out of the house
Even if your productive day is meant only to include things around the house it's still a good idea to get some fresh air. Take a break at some point during the day and walk to the local coffee shop, breath in the fresh air and clear your mind. 

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx

8 STEPS TO A POSITIVE LIFE

Many people want to live a happy and positive life, yet rarely make changes to have this lifestyle. I used to be a negative minded person, I would surround myself with toxic people and dwell on past events which I couldn't change. I finally came to my senses and realised I needed to change my lifestyle to be generally happy in life. It's surprisingly easy to change your perspective on life, I've listed 8 steps that will help you change yours.

1. Be comfortable in your own skin
The first step to living a truly happy life is learning to be comfortable in your own skin. Remember that nobody is perfect, everyone has flaws and insecurities about their body. You have to learn to accept who you are and love yourself. If you aren't comfortable in your skin, it can become your biggest concern everyday, thinking of ways to change yourself. You can't change who you are but you can change your perspective of yourself. Think positively and enjoy your body how it is.

2. The past is in the past

Don't look back and think "What If", the past is in the past for a reason because its behind you. There has been so many times I've reflected and thought should've, would've, could've. Yes this keeps your mind occupied but it's not a productive use of your time. Focus on the present and look forward to the future, dwelling on what could of been will only make you question every step in your life. Everything happens for a reason, so let it go. Letting the past be the past will let you look forward to a positive future.

3. Show kindness

Show kindness everyday in anyway you can. Smile at strangers, say hello to your colleagues, listen to others, basic little acts of kindness can make a huge difference. Show respect and be polite to others, the expression "treat others how you would like to be treated" comes to mind. If you show kindness to others you will receive the same treatment.

4. Live in the moment

Learn to appreciate the here and now. Pay attention to what is happening now, enjoy people's company and take in your surroundings. Don't spend all your time planning to far ahead, if you live so far in the future you can forget to enjoy the present.

5. Be happy

Happiness is something everyone should practice on a daily basis. Some people say happiness isn't a choice, I believe it is. So smile, laugh and enjoy life. 

6. Believe in yourself

You can achieve so much if you believe in yourself. If you don't believe in yourself, who will?

Believing in yourself can take years of practice, for some reason we find ways to think and act negatively. Next time you approach something in your life, believe you can achieve it! 

7. Distance yourself from toxic people

Some people come into our lives, make a huge impact and are here for the long run. Others come into our lives and aren't a great fit, making life difficult and creating conflict. If you want to live a happy life, you can't surround yourself with negative people who are not encouraging the lifestyle you want. It can be a difficult choice to make, I've had to say goodbye to my oldest friend because we grew apart. I felt like I was a different person around them, life is too short to have to adapt to every person in your life. Toxic people can truly break you down, you should distance yourself as fast as you can.

8. Forgive and forget

Holding grudges and refusing to let go is one of the major things that will influence how you live your life. As I said above the past is in the past for a reason, letting go of mistakes can help you become a better person. Perhaps someone hurt you, learning to let go and ensuring it doesn't happen again will make you a stronger and happier person.

Sincerely, Kimberly.

xxx